Spring compressor



H. H. DOUGLASS.

SPRING COMPRESSOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 26. 192i.

1,429,024, PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES HOWARD H. DOUGLASS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SPRING COMPRESSOR.

Application filed January 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. DOUGLASS, a citizen of the United States; residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provijde an apparatus whereby coil springs such as are employed in shock absorbersfor automobiles may be readily compressed.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in use.

Fig. 2is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the spring compressorshowing the spring to be compressed.

Fig. 4 isa plan view of the plate secured to the spring so as to retain the latter in its compressed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base for supporting the spring while it is being compressed.

F ig. 6 is a side elevation of the supporting base and spring showing the method of mounting the same upon the base when the spring is attached to its usual supporting bracket.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the supporting bracket for the spring.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

The compressor consists of a base 1 having the supporting beam 2 mounted upon the same. The upper surface 3 of this beam is provided with a notch 4 which is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and which is so arranged as to receive a usual supporting bracket 5 attached to a coil spring 6 utilized as a shock absorber for an automobile.

A upright 8 shown as a channel bar is mounted upon base 1 beyond one end of beam 2. Angle irons 9 are pivoted at 10 to the respective sides of'channel bar 8 so as to extend rearwardly above beam 2. These angle irons, preferably, taper away from one another toward their rear ends and may be connected at desired points by cross bars 12. One side of each of the angle bars is positioned substantially vertically, and the other side of each of the angle bars extends in- Serial No. 440,202.

vat its lower end in the rear end of beam 2 i as shown at 14. The bar extends upwardly between the angle bars 9 and is provided with a notched edge 15 adapted to engage one of the cross bars 12 connecting angle bars 9 in any one of said notches so as to retain the angle bars in adjusted positions.

When the spring to be compressed is mounted upon its usual bracket 5, said bracket is receivedin the notch 4 with the spring extending upwardly between the angle bars 9 and the .inwardly extending sides of said bars resting againstv the top of said spring. The locking bar 13' is then swung inwardly so as to disengage cross bar 12 and the spring is compressed to any desired degreeby the operatorplacing his weight upon the rearwardly extending outwardly flared ends of angle bars 9. This is, preferably, accomplished by the operator sitting upon said angle bars.

When the springhasbeen. compressed the desired amount, lockingbar 13 is swung toward cross bar 12 so that the latter isengaged in one of the notches 15. The spring will then be held in its compressed condition and a usual retaining bolt 18 may be inserted through the coils of the spring and connected to bracket 5 in usual manner. The usual cross plate 19 upon bolt 18 is then positioned against the upper end of the compressed spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, by means of the nut 20 screwed downwardly upon bolt 18 against said cross plate. The compressed spring may then be removed by releasing the angle bars and swinging the latter upwardly.

In 1 is shown the method of compressing a spring which has been detached from its bracket 5. For this purpose a plate such as shown in Fig. 4; and comprising a disc 22 is positioned at the base of the spring which is to be compressed. The disc is inserted between the lowermost coils of the spring until an arcuate flange 23 provided upon said disc abuts against a coil of the spring. The disc is provided with an axial opening 24 to receive the retaining bolt 18 lower end of bolt 18 may be received.- After and said opening is provided with opposite slots 25 through which the pin 26 uponxthe the pin 26 has been received through slots 25 the bolt 18 is turned so that said pin will impinge against. the lower surface of.

disc 22 and thereby prevent removal of the bolt.

"It will be understood that bolt 18 extends upwardly through the coils of the spring as previously described, and that the cross v screwing described.

l/Vhi-le I have illustrated the improved plate 19 and nut20 are positioned upon the upper end of the bolt so that when the spring is compressed the cross plate may be screwed down against the upper end of the spring by means of the nut.

' The spring with the mechanism, as thus described for retaining it in compressed po sition, is mounted upon the'upper surface of beam 2, preferably, above notch 41 and the spring is then compressed by" means or the angle bars as previously described. When'the spring has been sufliciently compressed and the angle bars have been locked in position by means of bar 13 the spring may be secured in compressed position by nut 20 downwardly, as previously spring compression as employed in connection with springs used as shock absorbers, it will be readily apparent that the device is adapted for'general use,- and,maybe advantageously employed whenever it is desired to compress various types of springs. Various changes may, be made without departing from the spirit of'the invention as claimed.

What is, claimed is:. 1

1. A spring compressor including a base for supporting a spring,a lever connected ed ratchet bar for locking pair of arms that are adapted to engage'the to said base soas to engage said'spring for compressingthe latter "and-a ratchet bar pivotally mounted on the base and adapted to engage a part of said leverwhen the same is depressed to compress a spring positioned on. said base.

2. A spring compressor including a base for supporting a-spring, said base being top of a spring positioned on said plate, and means for retaining said frame 1n 1ts depressed spring compressing position.

1. A spring-compressor including a spring supporting'plate adapted to be inserted between; the coils of said spring, clamping means secured to said plate for holding the spring in compressed position,"a base upon which said spring, supporting flplatefand clamping means are mounted, and a'lever connected to said base so as to engage said spring for compressing the ,same.

5. A spring 'compressor including abase for supporting a spring, said base being notched to receive the supportingmeans for said spring, and a lever connectedtolsaid base so as to engage sa'id'spring for compressing the same. a

In testimony whereof 'l w Y name to thisspeci icationi' HOWARD H. noUeL -jss. 

